Wyckoff NJ Terroristic Threats ChargesWyckoff NJ police recently arrested a man accused of possessing a handgun when he threatened a local merchant over a debt.

The Wyckoff Police Department got a call about a disturbance at a local business. According to law enforcement, the 42-year-old suspect came to the business during the early morning hours in order to collect a debt from the owner. The suspect reportedly waited outside the store until the owner showed up.

The suspect, who lives in New York, allegedly demanded that the victim hand over $7,000. When the victim refused to pay, the suspect reportedly threatened him and menacingly said, “You won’t like the next visit.”

When Wyckoff police officers showed up at the scene a short time later, they spoke with both the victim and the suspect. The officers later placed the suspect under arrest after allegedly finding him with a loaded .380 caliber handgun.

Police officers also reportedly found the suspect carrying a piece of paper containing the victim’s home address, as well as the names of the victim’s wife, children, parents, and sister.

The suspect was charged with several criminal offenses, including unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, terroristic threats, and theft by extortion.

Moreover, the suspect was charged with simple possession of marijuana because police reportedly discovered him with a small amount of pot.

If the suspect is eventually convicted on the weapons offenses, he could be subject to severe penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5, anyone who knowingly carries a handgun without first having obtained a valid carry permit can be charged with a third degree criminal offense. A conviction for third degree illegal possession of a handgun can lead to a sentence of 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison.

After being placed under arrest and charged, the suspect was transported to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, NJ. He was being held at the correctional facility on an $85,000 bail amount.

For further information about this case, view the NJ.com article entitled “Man Accused of Threatening Merchant Arrested with Loaded Gun, Wyckoff Police Say.”